I've been living in the Netherlands for six years. People often say, "This country never stops surprising me." But that's not quite how I feel.

Instead, it feels like I've found people whose way of thinking is very similar to mine.

I grew up in Eastern Europe, where people are often described as emotional, spontaneous, and sometimes wonderfully chaotic. I've always been the opposite. I like planning ahead. I enjoy making thoughtful decisions, spending money intentionally, and finding practical solutions to everyday problems.

I've lived in several countries, including Japan. But it's in the Netherlands that I've learned the most about living logically, using my time wisely, and finding joy in ordinary life.

Here are the Dutch habits that have become part of my everyday routine.

I sometimes joke that the Dutch have their entire year planned.

I'm not quite there yet, but I've become surprisingly good at planning six months ahead.

Meeting friends, booking holidays, scheduling appointments—almost everything goes on the calendar. Instead of feeling restrictive, I've found it incredibly freeing. Once something is planned, I can stop thinking about it.

Splitting the bill is completely normal here.

Back home, people often insisted on paying for each other. While it seemed generous, it also created an invisible system of favors that everyone was expected to remember. If someone bought you coffee today, you were expected to return the gesture another time. Forgetting could easily be interpreted as being inconsiderate.

I much prefer the Dutch approach. Everyone pays for themselves, nobody keeps score, and there are far fewer awkward moments.

Fresh flowers are part of the Dutch idea of gezellig—creating a warm, welcoming home.

Luckily, flowers are affordable here, and supermarkets regularly have great deals. It's one of the simplest ways to make a home feel brighter without spending much money.

Before moving here, I assumed public transport would be my main way of getting around. Instead, I use my bike almost everywhere. Sometimes I even cycle between nearby cities. Bike paths are excellent, parking is easy to find, and public transport can be surprisingly expensive.

The only place I still avoid cycling is Amsterdam city center. It's just a little too intense for me.

If Dutch people stayed home every time it rained, very little would ever happen. A bit of drizzle hardly counts as rain anymore. Without realizing it, I've stopped treating bad weather as a reason to change my plans.

Living in the Netherlands quickly teaches you the value of supermarket loyalty cards. When my favorite products are on sale, I happily stock up.

A "Buy One, Get One Free" offer already feels exciting.

A "Buy One, Get Two Free"?

That's practically a national holiday.

One small habit I absolutely love is thanking the bus driver when getting off. A quick "Dank u!" or "Hoi!" and a little wave cost nothing, but somehow make everyday life feel friendlier.

Orange is impossible to ignore in the Netherlands. It's the national color, the color of the royal family, and the color of Dutch football. Without planning it, orange has slowly found its way into my wardrobe. So far, it has mostly appeared as socks and a phone strap.

Leopard print is another story entirely. These days my favorite pole dance shorts are leopard print. So are my lounge pants. And my ballet flats.

Apparently, I adapted more than I expected.

The moment the sun appears, my balcony becomes my favorite place. I even have a name for it: balcony season. A cup of tea, a good book, and a little sunshine are often all I need. I don't always feel the need to go somewhere just because the weather is nice.

At first, I bought ginger shots because everyone seemed to swear by them. Then I realized they were expensive. So naturally, I bought a giant bottle of ginger concentrate instead.

Of course, it was 40% off, hoor.

If there's one Dutch habit that has influenced me the most, it's this. The best parts of life are often surprisingly ordinary.

Fresh flowers. A bike ride. Tea on the balcony.

A good supermarket deal. A friendly bus driver.

None of these things are extraordinary on their own.

Together, they make everyday life feel a little richer.